Ice Avalanches: Some Empirical Information about their Formation and Reach
Abstract A study intended to be mainly of practical use in the prediction of ice-avalanche hazards was carried out. About 100 ice avalanches, mostly from the Alps, were documented. Starting zones of these ice avalanches could be classified by using simple terrain characteristics. Ice avalanches from...
Published in: | Journal of Glaciology |
---|---|
Main Author: | |
Format: | Article in Journal/Newspaper |
Language: | English |
Published: |
Cambridge University Press (CUP)
1985
|
Subjects: | |
Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0022143000006663 https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0022143000006663 |
id |
crcambridgeupr:10.1017/s0022143000006663 |
---|---|
record_format |
openpolar |
spelling |
crcambridgeupr:10.1017/s0022143000006663 2024-04-28T08:26:47+00:00 Ice Avalanches: Some Empirical Information about their Formation and Reach Alean, Jürg 1985 http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0022143000006663 https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0022143000006663 en eng Cambridge University Press (CUP) Journal of Glaciology volume 31, issue 109, page 324-333 ISSN 0022-1430 1727-5652 Earth-Surface Processes journal-article 1985 crcambridgeupr https://doi.org/10.1017/s0022143000006663 2024-04-09T06:56:10Z Abstract A study intended to be mainly of practical use in the prediction of ice-avalanche hazards was carried out. About 100 ice avalanches, mostly from the Alps, were documented. Starting zones of these ice avalanches could be classified by using simple terrain characteristics. Ice avalanches from some starting zones at relatively low altitudes and with large, homogeneously inclined bedrock planes occur predominantly in summer and autumn. No such seasonal variation in frequency was found in connection with other types of starting zones occurring either at higher altitudes or involving abrupt changes of the bedrock’s gradient. One- and two-parameter models for the estimation of run-out distances of landslides and snow avalanches were tested for their use with ice avalanches. Introduction of the second ( v 2 proportional) frictional parameter leads only to moderately improved accuracy in the prediction of run-out distances. For relatively short run-out distances (several hundred meters), an alternative method of estimation, based on terrain characteristics, is proposed. Article in Journal/Newspaper Journal of Glaciology Cambridge University Press Journal of Glaciology 31 109 324 333 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Cambridge University Press |
op_collection_id |
crcambridgeupr |
language |
English |
topic |
Earth-Surface Processes |
spellingShingle |
Earth-Surface Processes Alean, Jürg Ice Avalanches: Some Empirical Information about their Formation and Reach |
topic_facet |
Earth-Surface Processes |
description |
Abstract A study intended to be mainly of practical use in the prediction of ice-avalanche hazards was carried out. About 100 ice avalanches, mostly from the Alps, were documented. Starting zones of these ice avalanches could be classified by using simple terrain characteristics. Ice avalanches from some starting zones at relatively low altitudes and with large, homogeneously inclined bedrock planes occur predominantly in summer and autumn. No such seasonal variation in frequency was found in connection with other types of starting zones occurring either at higher altitudes or involving abrupt changes of the bedrock’s gradient. One- and two-parameter models for the estimation of run-out distances of landslides and snow avalanches were tested for their use with ice avalanches. Introduction of the second ( v 2 proportional) frictional parameter leads only to moderately improved accuracy in the prediction of run-out distances. For relatively short run-out distances (several hundred meters), an alternative method of estimation, based on terrain characteristics, is proposed. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Alean, Jürg |
author_facet |
Alean, Jürg |
author_sort |
Alean, Jürg |
title |
Ice Avalanches: Some Empirical Information about their Formation and Reach |
title_short |
Ice Avalanches: Some Empirical Information about their Formation and Reach |
title_full |
Ice Avalanches: Some Empirical Information about their Formation and Reach |
title_fullStr |
Ice Avalanches: Some Empirical Information about their Formation and Reach |
title_full_unstemmed |
Ice Avalanches: Some Empirical Information about their Formation and Reach |
title_sort |
ice avalanches: some empirical information about their formation and reach |
publisher |
Cambridge University Press (CUP) |
publishDate |
1985 |
url |
http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0022143000006663 https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0022143000006663 |
genre |
Journal of Glaciology |
genre_facet |
Journal of Glaciology |
op_source |
Journal of Glaciology volume 31, issue 109, page 324-333 ISSN 0022-1430 1727-5652 |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1017/s0022143000006663 |
container_title |
Journal of Glaciology |
container_volume |
31 |
container_issue |
109 |
container_start_page |
324 |
op_container_end_page |
333 |
_version_ |
1797586031941255168 |